Plant for collecting rubbish from rubbish chutes into open containers



United States Patent lnventor Gunuar Arne Leonard Lundgren Solna, Sweden Appl. No. 690,835

Filed Dec. 15, 1967 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Assignee Komprimator Aktiebolag,

Ekebydal, Vallentuna, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden PLANT FOR COLLECTING RUBBISH FROM RUBBISH CHUTES INTO OPEN CONTAINERS 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 141/80,

Int. Cl. B651) l/24, B65b 3/10 [50] Field ofSear-ch 141/21,!3,

80. 283. 255-. 53/lnquired: [GO/inquired, 124(Q) 5 lnquired, 49 215, 223.45.98, 189; l98/lnquired;

222/ lnquired [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,929 9/1952 Paradise et al 100/189 2,984,957 5/1961 Lundgren 100/223 3,424,078 H1969 Boyd et a1 l41/73X Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney- Richards and Geier ABSTRACT: An apparatus collects garbage and other refuse from a chute through a tube which drops the garbage into one of a number of receptacles arranged in a circle upon a platform which rotates stepwise, preferably automatically. A device compressing the garbage in a receptacle is located above the receptacles and is actuated by a sensing member.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,495

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OLWOQ A ORNESS Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet IQ INVENTOR.

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IIIIIVENTOR: -LLundgren PLANT FOR COLLECTING RUBBISH FROM RUBBISH CIIUTES INTO OPEN CONTAINERS The present invention refers to an apparatus for collecting preferably garbage and other refuse from a chute arranged above the same.

To this end the invention has for its object to improve such an apparatus. I

Furthermore, the invention has for its object, by means of an auxiliary attachment to increase the capacity of the apparatus and allow its installation in any premises or locality adapted for this purpose.

Still another object of the invention is to create an improved apparatus, which automatically receives garbage and other refuse and compresses the same in a special receptacle, the apparatus when equipped with the auxiliary attachment being able to receive a large quantity of garbage and store the same in a special chute, and continually and automatically feed the garbage from the said chute to the vessels arranged for the same, where the garbage is treated until the chute is empty. When provided with the said attachment the apparatus will, as a unit, have essentially greater capacity, thus making the apparatus well suited to be installed in very high buildings with a substantial quantity of garbage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

- In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the rotatable platform seen from the top and illustrates an example of the means for the stepwise turning of the platform.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the feeding arrangement of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the same feeding arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram, in case the power energy is an air compressor.

In the embodiment here shown as an example of the apparatus according to the invention the power source is assumed to be an air compressor (not shown) of a kind known per se. In case some other means such as an electric motor should be used, it is evident that the means for actuating the apparatus may be varied.

In the embodiment chosen the apparatus according to the invention comprises a platform rotatable about its center 10 by means of a pneumatic driving device, generally designated 11. The platform 10 is carried by a number of U- beams 12 provided with setscrews 13 for the adjustment of the platform 10 to uneven ground conditions. The top of the platform 10 carries a number of pockets 14 in which are removably disposed paper or plastic bags 15 serving as receptacles for the garbage, or any other suitable means for the purpose. Thc bags 15 and the pockets 14 have in cross section the shape ofa truncated cone. On the inside of the receptacles 15 and extending above the same there is arranged an annular reject plate 16 extending vertically and serving to prevent garbage from gathering in the annular space 17. A box for the operating means, such as air valves, is designated 114.

From the annular space 17 rises vertically a column 18 and a brace 19. In the column 18 is anchored a horizontal beam 18' supporting a compression device, generally designated 21. The compression device is disposed right above a vessel 15 and is in the embodiment illustrated a pneumatic one way cylinder, the cylinder jacket 21' of which is attached to the lower face of the beam 18'. The piston rod 22 of the cylinder is at its lower end provided with a relatively thick horizontal disc 23 serving as a press head. As will be seen in FIG. 2 the disc 23 has a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the bags 15 although of a smaller size. A housing 23' surrounds the cylinder 21 at least on three sides and is at its lower edge attached to the press disc 23.

The compression device 21 as described above may be stationary or displaceably arranged in the horizontal direction and acts withu vertically directed force whose size and length of stroke is determined by the dimensions of thepneum'utie cylinder and operates by means of the press head 23 to compress the contents of the vessel below the head, as will he described hereinafter. By what has been said hereinbefore, it should be evident that the housing 23' cooperates in the compression cycle and prevents garbage from getting attached to the top face of the disc 23 during the return movement of the piston.

In order automatically to sense the contents of the receptacle whose contents are subjected to the above describedcompression by means of the compression device 21, the latter may be provided with a rod arranged movably outside the press cylinder. The upper end of the rod 110 is provided-with a cam 111 to actuate a sensing member 113 adjustable vertically on the column 78. In case the cam 111 should not actuate the sensing member 113 during the compressive phase. this indicates that the vessel 15 contains the proper quantity of garbage. When under these circumstances the compression device 21 has returned from its active position to its end position, the driving device 11 automatically feeds a new receptw cle into its proper place. By adjusting the position of the sensing member 113 any desirable filling amount'ofthe receptacle 15 may be set in advance.

The apparatus according to the invention is placed in a special locality wherein the garbage falls down from a chute 27 above the room. To the orifice of the chute is connected one end of a tube 28 having any suitable cross section. The tube 28 serves to lead the garbage to a feed device operationally connect to the apparatus but disposed outside the periphery of the platform 10 and generally designated 29. The tube 28 is inclining and provided with a sensing member 30 in the shape of a rocker bracket. The other end of the tube 28 is connected to the feed device 29 of a boxlike cross section with diverging side walls 32, 33. The top 34 is provided with a bore corresponding to the shape of the tube 28. The boxlike feed device 29 is supported by poles 35 and cross struts 36 and its rear portion is positioned higher than its front 'portion having an outlet port 37 (FIG. 3).

The feeding device 29 comprises means for conveying garbage falling down through the chute 27 and the tube 28 to a receptacle 15. In the embodiment shown the feed device 29 is at its bottom portion 38 provided with two longitudinal grooves at 39 as shown in FIG. 1. Two longitudinal flat irons 40, 41 are arranged at the inside of the bottom portion 38. Each flat iron 40, 41 is perforated, the corresponding number of pegs 42 being inserted in the holes. The pegs 42 are in the embodiment illustrated theprolongations of piston rods 42 of pneumatic cylinders 42"; this arrangement permits an upward movement of the pegs 42 from an end position in the same plane as the flat irons 40, 41, with the cylinders 42" as a power source, to a second end position (FIGS. 3 and 4 )whcrc they projcctto about half the height of the boxlike housing 32, 33, 34, 38. The arrow A in FIG. 4 shows the function of the pegs. FIG. 4 also shows valves 100, 101 and 102 of a type known per se and combined with the power sources 42' and 42". The said valves will not be described herein in detail either to their construction or their function, which latter is clearly seen by FIG 5 and understood by the description relating to the same. a

The feed device 29 is completed by a device by means of which the flat irons 40, 41 and the pegs 42 connected to the same can be brought to carry out a displacement in the direction of the outlet port 37. In accordance with a practical embodiment the said device is a member or carriage 44 of U- shaped cross section, at the downwardly extending legs 45,46 of which are mounted rotating rollers 47, 48. The rollers 47, 48 are movable along surface 49, 50. The pegs 42 also penetrate the carriage 44 and this implies that by adding a power source, for example a pneumatic cylinder 51, a displacing movement is imparted to the pegs 42 as well as to the flat irons 40, 41 towards the outlet port 37. The feed device 40, 41 performs an intermittent movement being displaced from a first end position to a second end position and back again to its initial end position. In this movement the pegs 42 cooperate in the manner described. The arrows B symbolize the said feeding movements. The feed device 29 is arranged in such a manner that its outlet port 37 lies slightly above the receptacle and preferably the compression device 21 should have an inactive position above the same receptacle although there may be certain advantages in having a press head oscillating in the horizontal plane.

The outlet port 37 of the feed device 29 is combined with a lid 52. The lid 52 is provided with means for bringing about an automatic shutting of the outlet port 37. in the embodiment shown the upper edge of the lid 52 is connected to the pistonrod 53 of a pneumatic cylinder 54, which will thus act as a power source of the lid 52 being normally closed The apparatus works in the following manner:

Garbage let down through the chute 27 acts on the sensing member 30 in the tube 28, and then falls down onto the bottom portion 32 of the boxlike feed device 29. The operation of the sensing member 31 actuates the members 42' and 42" and pushes the pegs 42 upwards to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. After the pegs have reached the said extreme position the member 51 is actuated to bring about the feeding movement of the flat irons 40, 41 towards the receptacle 15, the closed lid 52 being simultaneously opened by the power source 53, 54. Then garbage present in the feed device is entrained and, owing to the combination of the feeding movement just described and the inclining position of the device 29, it falls into the receptacle 15 positioned slightly spaced under the outlet 37. The feeding movement of the member 51 as described will in its second end position, which is the active end position, act on the power sources 42', 42" bringing back the pegs 42 into their inactive position. With the pegs 42 in their inactive position, the lid 52 will return to its normal position, Le. shutting the outlet port 37. By providing the lower edge or the lid 52 with teeth or the like garbage which may have gathered between the lid and the bottom portion 38 may readily be cut off, alternately the press disc 23 may at its side facing the outlet 37 be provided with teeth or the like. When the lid 52 has reached its shutting position, this will initiate the compression cycle of the garbage in receptacle 15 by operating the compression device 21. Provided the receptacle is not filled, i.e. thepress head 23 can penetrate a certain minimum distance into the receptacle 15, the compression device will return to its position of rest after the job has been done. The apparatus is then ready to receive and treat new garbage and other refuse in the manner described hereinbefore.

' The accompanying circuit diagram shows the operation of the apparatus described, when the central power source is an air compressor and elueidates the process described hereinbefore.

The valve D8 is combined with the sensing member 30, and when the latter is actuated by the garbage falling down through the chute 27 the valve F1 is actuated bringing the cylinders C1 of the pegs 42 to move from their inactive end position to their active position. With the pegs 42 in their active position the valve D2 actuated, which via the cylinder C2 constituting the power source of the lid 52 brings about the opening of the lid 52. When the lid has reached its fully open position, the valve F2 is actuated resulting in the flat irons 40, 41 with the help'of the power source being displaced towards the outlet port 37. With the power source, the cylinder C2, in

its active. end position, the valve D4 is actuated, which by means of the valve Fl brings the pegs 42 to return to their inactive position, while the lid 52 will simultaneously via the cylinder C2 be brought into its closing position. When the pegs 42 have reached their inactive position, the valve D1 is actuated which via the valve F2 brings the cylinder C2 to restore the flat irons 40, 41 to their inactive position. With the cylinder C2 of the flat irons in the said end position the valve D3 is activated, which via the .valve F8 imparts a working movement downwards to the press cylinder C4. The return movement of press cylinder C4 is taken care of b the valve F9. FIG. 5 also shows valves F6, F7, F8, F9, D9, D 0 and D11 as well as the cylinder C5, which all are provided to operate when the exchange ofa filled vessel 15 for an empty one takes place as described hereinbefore. The valve D7 has a closing function, which in this connection means that the starting impulse D8 cannot be initiated during the current operational cycle.

By the above it will be seen that the tube 28 as well as the chute 27 above the same may serve as a silo for the garbage, each operation of the sensing member 30 triggering a new operational cycle of the apparatus.

The valve D11 in FIG. 5 is provided to be actuated from the outside by service staff for starting the operational cycle just described.

1 claim:

1. An apparatus for collecting garbage, comprising a chute, a feeding device, a tube extending between said chute and said feeding device for transmitting garbage from said chute to said feeding device, a rotary platform comprising a plurality of pockets, said feeding device being inclined toward said pockets and comprisingmovable means transferring garbage to said pockets, a sensing member located in said tube, means connected with said sensing member and the first-mentioned means for actuating the first-mentioned means, a compression device movable vertically in and out of any one of said pockets to compress garbage fed into that pocket, means actuating said compression device, means connected with the last-mentioned means and sensing the amount of garbage filling a pocket and means turning stepwise said platform to bring said pockets consecutively into operative position relatively to said filling deviceand said compression device.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube is inclined and has an outlet adapted to be located above any one of said pockets.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable means of the feeding device comprise a plurality of gripping pegs and means connected with said pegs and moving them from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa and along said feeding device toward and away from said pockets.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said feeding device further comprises a lid located adjacent said pockets and connected with the last-mentioned means, the last-mentioned means closing said lid when said pegs are in the lower position, the lower edge of the lid when closed cutting off the garbage.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising an air compressor operatively connected with means actuating the garbage transferring means and with means rotating said platform. 

